The second question was whether the church would soon take the step of allowing artificial contraceptives—as it came close to doing in the mid-1960s, before Humanae Vitae. The encyclical reaffirmed ultraconservative sexual morality and reversed a trend toward collegiality in church government. Today, condoms have helped to slow the spread of AIDS in Brazil and elsewhere. But in Africa, where the AIDS crisis is worst, the church is identified more than ever with the most adamant opposition to the condom and church governance remains tightly centralized. The election of Joseph Ratzinger announces that the status quo will remain unchanged.

Last edited by Pronto on Wed Apr 20, 2005 11:07 am, edited 1 time in total.

I reckon Pope Benedict XVI will be a radical, unlike all his previous history. I think he could be a deep-cover agent; a radical who has faked conservatism to curry favour with John Paul II (who was a radical until shortly after his election) and get ahead in the church. Now he is able to show his true colours. I hope he doesn't get poisoned like John Paul I though, that would mean another false start on the road to reform.

I reckon Pope Benedict XVI will be a radical, unlike all his previous history. I think he could be a deep-cover agent; a radical who has faked conservatism to curry favour with John Paul II (who was a radical until shortly after his election) and get ahead in the church. Now he is able to show his true colours. I hope he doesn't get poisoned like John Paul I though, that would mean another false start on the road to reform.

So you're suggesting that everything he has done so far in his life was a sham... to get elected, I assume.
You're suggesting that he's just another politician?
What indicators are you basing this 'reckoning' on? Gut feeling? Wishful thinking?
What facts are you using to conclude that JPI was poisoned?